Guide for rail-cutting torches



2 Sheets-$heet l INVENTOR.. u @nayoO/dr Feb. 14, 1928.

B. MARTINI GUIDE FOR RAIL CUTTING ToRonEs Filed July 19. 192'? BY@ M A ToRNE s.

Feb. 14, 1928. 1,658,811

B. MARTINI GUIDE FGR RAIL CUTTING TORGHES K Filed July 19, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 A TTORN E BY YS4 Patented Feb. 14, 1928,

UNITED STATES BIAGIO MARTINI, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

GUIDE ron nain-CUTTING Tononns.

Applicatiun filed July 19, 1927. Serial No. 206,885.

This invention relates to guides for cutting-torches used in particular for cutting railway-rails.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a guide for a rail cutting-torch which may be readily mounted on a rail and which can be used on various sizes of rails. Another object of this invention is tokprovide such a guide and support in which the cutting-torch may be mounted or removed with great ease. A further object is to provide such a guide which permits of the cutting of a rail, or the like, by means of a torch in a practically straight cut which requires no further finishing and whereby the cutting operation proper may be performed with one hand only. Still a further object is the provision of a guide of this character wherein the cutting-torch may be adjusted angularly to suit the best working conditions. Yet another object is to produce a device of the purpose stated above which issimple in construction and operation, suliciently light in weight to be easily carried about by a workman and which can be manufactured at relatively low cost. Additional features and advan tages of this invention will appear from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which:

Fig. 1 isa side elevation showing the device applied to a railroad-rail.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the torch-holding-arm. y

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a latch used for holding in lace the torch-holding-arm.

Figs. 6 and are fragmentary and diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the device.

Reference being had to the drawings. the device comprises a supporting frame made up of the two identical frame-plates 1 and 2 held in suitable spaced and parallel relation by means of the through-bolts 3 engaging the spacing-tubes 11. The forward sides of these frame-plates are cut out to produce the `rail-supports 5, the upper clamping-arms 6 and the intermediate eX- tensions 7 which are adapted to bear against the web 8 of the rail 9, indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1.` Fastened to and between the clamping arms by means of the screws 10 is the bridge-member 11, the middle portion 12 of which is enlarged and threaded to receive a clamping screw 13, of any desired and suitable type.

Rockably mounted on the two frame plates is the lever-shaft 14 having at one end a square portion 15 upon which is mounted the suitably curved lever 16 vwhich is held in place by means of a washer 17 and a nut 18, screwed on the threaded extension 19 of the shaft. At its upper end the lever has a head 20 in which is driven a sleeve member 21'of steel or other wear resisting material.

Rockably connected to the lever is the torch-holding-arm 22 at the upper end of which is secured a pin 23 adapted to rotate within the sleeve member 21. This pin has an .enlarged portion 211 in which is turned a circular groove 25, will be stated hereafter. The lower end of the arm 22 is enlarged and to it is adjustably secured, by means of the machine-screw 26, the inner torch clamping disc 27. The latter is provided with a diametral groove 28 of ample width and depth to accommodate the various pipes 29 of the cutting torch 30, which may be of any standard type now available in the trade. These pipes are clamped in proper position on the vtorch arm by means of the outer clamping disc 31 which is substantially similar to the inner disc and which is held thereon by the clamping screws 32.

The torch-holdingarin 22 is preferably held in place on the lever 16 by means of a latch 33 which is rockably mounted on the lever-head 20. In thislatch is cut a slot 34 which is adapted to engage the groove in the pin 23 and which, therefore, prevents the torch-holding-arm from shifting in the lever during the manipulation of the cutting-torch.

y Placed around the shaft 121- is a coil spring 35 one end of which is secured to the shaft at 36 whereas the other end is held in a hole or slot 3'? provided in the frame-plate 2. This spring is preferably protected against rain and the flying particles of molten metal the purpose of which.`

lll() by a tubular casing 38. The tendency'of this spring is to rotate the lever 16 in a counterclockewise direction, as shown by the arrow 39 in Fig. 1. This rotation is limited by the stop-pin 40 whichv allows the lever to assume the substantially vertical position shown in said Fig. 1. n

.ln order to protect the operator from the iiying sparks of molten metal, a shieldetl 1 proper'F amount by may be n'iounted',l the desired angle, on the frame-plate 1. rThis shield is secured thereon by means of an angle-iron l2 which is f tened on the frame by screws d3; il. slot let is cut in the lower end ofthe shield to accommodate the lever 1S and to' 'forma stop` to the forward rotation of the latter. lWhen this shield is used, the stop-pin l0 may, course, be dispensed with.

The clockwise rotation of the torch-holding-arm 2Q on' the lever l@ is limited to the the stop-lug proviiilod on said lever.

ini tlieabove.description, the operation ofmjf deviceovillihe readily understood and Inay'bebrieflystated to be as follows;

Assuming, that `one endu o tf the rail 9 t Fia'. isfto he cut arva'jgthetri me is suitably located-lori Vthe rail. and secured thereon by the clamping-,screw 13.Y vllleizt.4 the torch 30 is properly'1 adjusted" als to height and angle on, tlie torch-lio'ldingfarm clamping' screws `3Q and the inachindscren 263,' sothat'f the Haine from `the torch may traverse tle'wholesecti'on of the rail. The operator` now ignites the torch and, holdv ing the saine by" onel hand only, rotates it in a` clockwise direction using" the pin i as a fulcrum. lVlien the torch assumes substantially the positionshoivn in the llame will have cut through the Whole base of the rail and aT portion of the web thereof. and the torclifholdiiigfarmwill: strike the stop-ingr 45T From" noiv'omthe center o'rotation of tletor'h' Will-change from the pinffQB' to the shaft `la andthe remaining, portion of the raillwelj and the rail-head will be cut Vtliroagli.i ny upward-ly lyingi sparks will be arrested the shielded.

t will he observed that by rotating; the torch about two `it'ulcrums disposed as shown inthe drawings, .the iii) Llo oil the torch will first I'i'iov'e towardthe rail and then away therefrom, 4describirla'`the two arcs 4T and itl shown in Fia. 6. By this arrangemeiit, the torch-tip is brought verv close to the object to b"e cut, so'that the flame is used' to the liest advantage,` y

ft'er the rail' is cut through, the operator releases'the torch, and the latter reverts back to the normal" position shown in Fia'. l owing; to the retract-ile' actionvof the springt 35.

Wliilel have described my invention :is applied `to xthe cuttingA of' rails, it will be readily understood that by slight-ly. modi-f3`ring' some of the proportions of therariousl parts, mayT be used for cuttingrmany kinds of structural stee'l'shapesa lso, I reservo `the?rigrlitof mak-ing all such changes found desirable ,and las fallovithin the scope oi? the appended claims.

" olzriinz` l. In aguide for a torch `for cuttingl rails andthe like, rockableytorch L@guiding means adapt'ed trotate the torch successively about by means of the two itulcruins during; the cutting olzieraton.

Q. ln a guide for ay torcli 'ior cuttingA rails and the like, the combination of a frame; meansr iior socliring the 'frame to the rail to be cut, and rocliab'le torch holding' means mounted on thciirame and adapted to guide aid torch for rotation successively about two 'ulcrums duringg the cuttingI ol'icratiou.

3. lu a ,cuide 'for a torch For cutting rails and 'the lf c, means for rei'norably securinggjthe sans! to the rail to'bc cut; rocliable torch lniltliirn` iilcailis mounted on :laid frame and adapted to guide saidtorch for rotation successirely about tuo -liulcrums during?` thel cutting operation, and soltactuatinggj moans tor returning said torch into inoperative position.

4. In a guide for a torch for cuttiii` and the lilreftlie combination ot a laine;

to guide said torch tor rotation successively about tivo 'Pulci-ums durinef` the cutti'iibjoo'- eration, and nicans for limitingv the rotation' oil the torch about the lirst fulcrum. y

5. ln a ,Q'uide i'or a torch for cutting rails and the like, the combination of a' trarne; meansfor removably securing the same to the rail to be cut; rockablo torch holding means mounted on said frame and adapted to `rguidesaid torch-for rotation successively about tivo fulcruins during the cutting` operatioinand means for limitinfl.;1 the, rotation in one direction ot" the torch about the second ulcruin. y

(i. In a guide for a torcilifor cutting rails andy the like, the combination of a." frame; means for securine'said "frame to the rail to be out; a lever pivotally mounted ont-lie tramo; an arm pivotallv mounted on said lever, and means `tor `limiting the rotation in one direction. of said lever.

7. In a guide for a torch for cutting rails andthe like, the combination ol" a frame.; means for securingsaidframe to tliej rail to he cut; a-lever pivotally mounted on the frame; an arm pivotally mounted on `said lever, andmeans for limiting the rotation of said arm on said lever.

8. In a `guide ff'o atorch for" cutting; rails and the lilo", the combination of' a` trarne; means for securing .said frame to the rail to ble cut; a lever pivotally mounted on the frame; an arno pivotally mountedon said lever, and self-actuating means `for return` ingr said lever into originalposition.

9, In` aguide 'for a torchjor cutting rails and thelike, the comlgiination of a frame; ineens,` for removably securii'inf. the same to the object to be out', rockable` torch holding` means mounted on said frame and adapted to guide said torch for rotation successively about tivo fulcrums during the cuttingoper ation; self-actuating means for returning the combination ot a lramc;A

o' rails lll)` the torch holdineF means into inoperative pol sition and means for limiting said return motion.

10.k In a guide for a torch for cutting rails and the like, the combination of a frame; means for removably securing the same to the object to be cut; rockable torch holding means mounted on said frame and adapted to guide said torch for rotation successively7 about two ulcrums during the cutting operation; selactuating means for returning the torch holding means into inoperative position and positive stopping means for limit ing said return motion.

11. In a guide for a torch for cutting rails and the like, the combination of a frame; means'ior removably securing the same 'to the object to be cut; rockable torch holding means mounted on said frame and adapted ation; self-actuating means for returning the y torch holding means into inoperative position, and means positioned on said frame for limiting said return motion.

l2. In a guide for a torch for cutting rails and the like7 the combination of a frame; means for securing said frame to the object to be cut; a lever pivotally mounted on the frame; an arm pivotally mounted on said lever, and stopping means positioned on said lever to limit the rotation of said arm thereon.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BIAGIO MARTINI. 

